A series of avalanches has killed more than 80 people in mountainous areas of northeastern Afghanistan.

Officials said on February 25 most of the victims were in Panjshir Province, where heavy snowfall in recent days destroyed more than 100 homes and blocked main roads, making it difficult for rescue workers to reach the affected villages.

It also blocked a key highway that leads to the Salang tunnel, which connects Kabul with provinces north of the Hindu Kush mountains.

Authorities in neighboring Tajikistan said on February 24 that avalanches caused by heavy snowfalls and abrupt warm weather killed at least five in recent days.

In Kyrgyzstan, an avalanche killed a Russian woman vacationing in the mountains in the northern Issyk-Kul region.

Deadly avalanches are common in the three countries' high mountains in winter.